Endangered species as art sculptures

Art comes in many forms, shapes, colors and even scents. But using an endangered species in an art piece will only bring trouble to the artist.

Sculptures are a truly ancient art form, one which even primitive man created and enjoyed. The representation of the creatures which surrounded ancient man were often the focus of the primitive art form, but Enrique Gomez De Molina sees those creatures from a different perspective.

De Molina creates taxidermy sculptures with pieces and parts from different animals as shown at Ecosalon. Using parts from endangered species though has landed the artist in trouble with the Dept. of Justice for violations of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.

As shown at NBC Miami, and the UK Mail, De Molina failed to report the purchase of some of the animals and animal parts he was using to the (USFWS) US Fish and Wildlife Service.

One sculpture De Molina sold at a Miami Scope Art fair, and then shipped to Canada was an illegal export. The parts De Molina used in his fabricated animals came from all over the world, Thailand, Philippines, and Indonesia were a few.

According to the US Dept. of Justice website, De Molina several types of protected Kingfisher, lesser bird of paradise, hornbills, orangutans and even a slow loris. Trafficking in a slow loris is not allowed under any circumstances with or without licensing from the USFWS.

While some of the pieces De Molina produced were sold for as much as $80.000, the end result is a 20 month sentence and a $6,000 fine plus forfeiture of much of the artwork produced.

Special Agent in Charge of the FWS Office of Law Enforcement, Southeast Region. is quoted as saying “The taxidermy work that Mr. De Molina considered artwork is nothing more than a shameful use of the world’s wildlife resources, by promoting the illegal take(ing), and trafficking of protected species.”